Category: Asia-Pacific

New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters has called for continued United States engagement in the Pacific, warning that the region faces a more unsettled geopolitical environment ahead of New Zealand’s November 2026 election. In his final major foreign policy speech before the vote, Peters said the current security environment was “not benign”, citing concerns including…

South Korea and Kazakhstan have agreed to elevate bilateral relations to a “future-oriented comprehensive strategic partnership,” while expanding cooperation in energy, critical minerals, technology and economic security, according to South Korean presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung. The upgrade builds on diplomatic relations established in 1992 and a strategic partnership formed in 2009. The agreement was announced…

Cambodia and Thailand opened the first meeting of a United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) compulsory conciliation process on Tuesday (15 Sep) aimed at resolving their long-running maritime boundary dispute in the Gulf of Thailand. Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn said Phnom Penh is seeking a treaty establishing a single maritime…

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, agreeing that China and India should act as partners rather than rivals. The leaders discussed improving bilateral relations, economic cooperation, and maintaining stability along their disputed border. Xi said recent progress, including…

South Korea is continuing to assess a possible contribution to maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz after dispatching a fact-finding team to the United Arab Emirates, while stressing that no decision on troop deployment has been made.  Dozens of protesters in Seoul opposed any military involvement, as Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei warned…

Russian President Vladimir Putin and General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam and President of Vietnam To Lam oversaw the signing of bilateral agreements and cooperation documents during talks at the Kremlin on Wednesday (9 Sep), aimed at expanding the Russia–Vietnam comprehensive strategic partnership. The agreements and initiatives cover energy, science, technology, trade and…

Philippines Secretary of National Defense Gilbert Teodoro accused China of “actual coercion, bullying and aggression” after he was handed a note during a plenary session at the Seoul Defence Dialogue 2026, where he was discussing international stability and the South China Sea dispute. The note, reportedly written by a military attaché at the Chinese embassy…

Russia and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) have officially opened a new road bridge across the Tumannaya River, marking a milestone in bilateral infrastructure cooperation. The bridge was inaugurated by Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and DPRK Prime Minister Pak Thae Song via video link. Pak Thae Song said the project would support…

South Korea, the United States and Japan have begun the 2026 Freedom Edge joint military exercise, with the five-day drills taking place in international waters east and south of South Korea’s Jeju Island. The annual exercise involves maritime, air and cyber operations designed to strengthen coordination and response capabilities between the three countries. Key developments:…

Vietnam and Myanmar have agreed to expand defence, security and economic cooperation following talks between Vietnamese President To Lam and Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing in Hanoi. The two countries will increase collaboration in areas including military exchanges, disaster response and efforts to combat transnational crime. Key developments include: The leaders also reaffirmed support for…